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Bill Changing Fines For Pesticide Misuse Heads To Holcomb’s Desk

By Rebecca Thiele, IPB News | Published on in Agriculture, Environment, Government, Politics
Dicamba can cause "cupping" in non-tolerant soybeans, which are especially susceptible to the herbicide. (Courtesy of Purdue University)
Dicamba can cause "cupping" in non-tolerant soybeans, which are especially susceptible to the herbicide. (Courtesy of Purdue University)

A bill that would change the fines for misusing pesticides is headed to Governor Holcomb’s desk. It passed with all but four votes in the House on Monday.

The legislation aims to crack down on people who misuse things like dicamba — a weed killer that’s been known to drift off of farm fields and kill neighboring crops. Under the bill, someone who knowingly misused a restricted-use pesticide could get a $1,000 fine.

READ MORE: Bill Would Change Fines For Misusing Pesticides, Including Dicamba

But the bill would go easy on people who commit minor violations of less than $500. Depending on the violation, they could work with the state to reduce their fine or be let off with a warning.

Contact reporter Rebecca at rthiele@iu.edu or follow her on Twitter at @beckythiele.

Indiana Environmental reporting is supported by the Environmental Resilience Institute, an Indiana University Grand Challenge project developing Indiana-specific projections and informed responses to problems of environmental change.

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